2nd LT USAAF WWII
ASN O-686891
447th BG, 711th B Sq
CoPilot
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Y. Corley and the nephew of Mrs. A. L. Capps who lived in the community of Wilson, TX at the time of his death. He was from Anson, Jones Co, TX, but in 1941 his residence was in Haskell Co, TX. He graduated from Anson High School in 1933 and a student at North Texas Agricultural College. His civil occupation was listed as 'retail manager.' He received his wings in April of 1941.
He was killed on his 18th mission. His B-17G, based at Rattlesden Air Base, crashed over Suffolk, England on 27 Mar 1944 near Green Farm/Scarfe's Ley. His assigned plane was B-17G #42-31088, the 'Heaven Can Wait', however, he was lost with his crew in another plane, B-17G #42-38085 when the plane exploded mid-air shortly after takeoff. An eyewitness reported a flame and smoke coming from the right wing prior to the crash.
Soon after, B-17G #42-31088 'Heaven Can Wait' also crashed shortly after takeoff with the Philip King crew.
The crew members were-
1st Lt Wesley G Hudson, Pilot,
ASN O-745896, WA
2nd Lt Willard B Corley, CoPilot,
ASN O-686891, TX
2nd Lt Norman Bishusky, Navigator,
ASN O-687807, NJ
2nd Lt Joseph C Hendrix, Jr, Bombardier,
ASN O-679197, TX
TSGT John C Cunningham, Jr, Top Turret Gunner,
ASN 17010834, KS
TSGT Donald N Jungenberg, Radio Operator,
ASN 36276798, WI
SSGT Charles E Gorman, Ball Turret Gunner,
ASN 32503476, NY
SSGT James E Penwell, Tail Gunner,
ASN 33162827, PA
SSGT Leo A St Laurent, Left Waist Gunner,
ASN 11043802, RI
SSGT John C Bodenhoffer, Right Waist Gunner,
ASN 19081169, CA
Note - Hudson crew members SSGT Edward J Kelly and PVT Burton L Wilson were not on the plane the day it crashed; instead, their replacements were TSGT John C Cunningham and SSGT John C Bodenhoffer.
Lt Corley was awarded the following medals-
Purple Heart Medal
Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
ASN O-686891
447th BG, 711th B Sq
CoPilot
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Y. Corley and the nephew of Mrs. A. L. Capps who lived in the community of Wilson, TX at the time of his death. He was from Anson, Jones Co, TX, but in 1941 his residence was in Haskell Co, TX. He graduated from Anson High School in 1933 and a student at North Texas Agricultural College. His civil occupation was listed as 'retail manager.' He received his wings in April of 1941.
He was killed on his 18th mission. His B-17G, based at Rattlesden Air Base, crashed over Suffolk, England on 27 Mar 1944 near Green Farm/Scarfe's Ley. His assigned plane was B-17G #42-31088, the 'Heaven Can Wait', however, he was lost with his crew in another plane, B-17G #42-38085 when the plane exploded mid-air shortly after takeoff. An eyewitness reported a flame and smoke coming from the right wing prior to the crash.
Soon after, B-17G #42-31088 'Heaven Can Wait' also crashed shortly after takeoff with the Philip King crew.
The crew members were-
1st Lt Wesley G Hudson, Pilot,
ASN O-745896, WA
2nd Lt Willard B Corley, CoPilot,
ASN O-686891, TX
2nd Lt Norman Bishusky, Navigator,
ASN O-687807, NJ
2nd Lt Joseph C Hendrix, Jr, Bombardier,
ASN O-679197, TX
TSGT John C Cunningham, Jr, Top Turret Gunner,
ASN 17010834, KS
TSGT Donald N Jungenberg, Radio Operator,
ASN 36276798, WI
SSGT Charles E Gorman, Ball Turret Gunner,
ASN 32503476, NY
SSGT James E Penwell, Tail Gunner,
ASN 33162827, PA
SSGT Leo A St Laurent, Left Waist Gunner,
ASN 11043802, RI
SSGT John C Bodenhoffer, Right Waist Gunner,
ASN 19081169, CA
Note - Hudson crew members SSGT Edward J Kelly and PVT Burton L Wilson were not on the plane the day it crashed; instead, their replacements were TSGT John C Cunningham and SSGT John C Bodenhoffer.
Lt Corley was awarded the following medals-
Purple Heart Medal
Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
2nd LT USAAF WWII
ASN O-686891
447th BG, 711th B Sq
CoPilot
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Y. Corley and the nephew of Mrs. A. L. Capps who lived in the community of Wilson, TX at the time of his death. He was from Anson, Jones Co, TX, but in 1941 his residence was in Haskell Co, TX. He graduated from Anson High School in 1933 and a student at North Texas Agricultural College. His civil occupation was listed as 'retail manager.' He received his wings in April of 1941.
He was killed on his 18th mission. His B-17G, based at Rattlesden Air Base, crashed over Suffolk, England on 27 Mar 1944 near Green Farm/Scarfe's Ley. His assigned plane was B-17G #42-31088, the 'Heaven Can Wait', however, he was lost with his crew in another plane, B-17G #42-38085 when the plane exploded mid-air shortly after takeoff. An eyewitness reported a flame and smoke coming from the right wing prior to the crash.
Soon after, B-17G #42-31088 'Heaven Can Wait' also crashed shortly after takeoff with the Philip King crew.
The crew members were-
1st Lt Wesley G Hudson, Pilot,
ASN O-745896, WA
2nd Lt Willard B Corley, CoPilot,
ASN O-686891, TX
2nd Lt Norman Bishusky, Navigator,
ASN O-687807, NJ
2nd Lt Joseph C Hendrix, Jr, Bombardier,
ASN O-679197, TX
TSGT John C Cunningham, Jr, Top Turret Gunner,
ASN 17010834, KS
TSGT Donald N Jungenberg, Radio Operator,
ASN 36276798, WI
SSGT Charles E Gorman, Ball Turret Gunner,
ASN 32503476, NY
SSGT James E Penwell, Tail Gunner,
ASN 33162827, PA
SSGT Leo A St Laurent, Left Waist Gunner,
ASN 11043802, RI
SSGT John C Bodenhoffer, Right Waist Gunner,
ASN 19081169, CA
Note - Hudson crew members SSGT Edward J Kelly and PVT Burton L Wilson were not on the plane the day it crashed; instead, their replacements were TSGT John C Cunningham and SSGT John C Bodenhoffer.
Lt Corley was awarded the following medals-
Purple Heart Medal
Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
ASN O-686891
447th BG, 711th B Sq
CoPilot
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Y. Corley and the nephew of Mrs. A. L. Capps who lived in the community of Wilson, TX at the time of his death. He was from Anson, Jones Co, TX, but in 1941 his residence was in Haskell Co, TX. He graduated from Anson High School in 1933 and a student at North Texas Agricultural College. His civil occupation was listed as 'retail manager.' He received his wings in April of 1941.
He was killed on his 18th mission. His B-17G, based at Rattlesden Air Base, crashed over Suffolk, England on 27 Mar 1944 near Green Farm/Scarfe's Ley. His assigned plane was B-17G #42-31088, the 'Heaven Can Wait', however, he was lost with his crew in another plane, B-17G #42-38085 when the plane exploded mid-air shortly after takeoff. An eyewitness reported a flame and smoke coming from the right wing prior to the crash.
Soon after, B-17G #42-31088 'Heaven Can Wait' also crashed shortly after takeoff with the Philip King crew.
The crew members were-
1st Lt Wesley G Hudson, Pilot,
ASN O-745896, WA
2nd Lt Willard B Corley, CoPilot,
ASN O-686891, TX
2nd Lt Norman Bishusky, Navigator,
ASN O-687807, NJ
2nd Lt Joseph C Hendrix, Jr, Bombardier,
ASN O-679197, TX
TSGT John C Cunningham, Jr, Top Turret Gunner,
ASN 17010834, KS
TSGT Donald N Jungenberg, Radio Operator,
ASN 36276798, WI
SSGT Charles E Gorman, Ball Turret Gunner,
ASN 32503476, NY
SSGT James E Penwell, Tail Gunner,
ASN 33162827, PA
SSGT Leo A St Laurent, Left Waist Gunner,
ASN 11043802, RI
SSGT John C Bodenhoffer, Right Waist Gunner,
ASN 19081169, CA
Note - Hudson crew members SSGT Edward J Kelly and PVT Burton L Wilson were not on the plane the day it crashed; instead, their replacements were TSGT John C Cunningham and SSGT John C Bodenhoffer.
Lt Corley was awarded the following medals-
Purple Heart Medal
Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Texas.
Family Members
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